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Whether back to school is in full swing at your house or you are caught in the grind of a 9 to 5 work week, mornings can be tough. These 5 organizing tips will pep up your morning routine so you can start your day out right.

1 // Lay out your clothes the night before.

Picking what you are going to wear the next day saves time & decreases stress. Instead of doing a mad dash to see if those pants or that shirt are clean in the morning or having to make a decision while you are only half awake, you will have a moment to contemplate what you are wearing and time to find all the elements of your outfit. This is also a great thing to get your kiddos in the habit of doing as part of their bedtime routine so getting dressed isn’t a battle.

2 // Pack your bags.

The same goes for your work bag & backpacks – pack them the night before too. Have your kids put all of their homework, projects, books, papers, and school gear in one spot each night. That way, when its time to leave in the morning there is no “Where is my ________!?” while you are scrambling out the door.

3 // Plan lunches for the week on Sunday night.

You may or may not currently meal plan, but even if your plan is for your kids to eat a school lunch or for you to eat out, make a mental note. If you do pack a lunch, go ahead and plan for what you will bring each day on Sunday night. It may be as simple as “lefties” from the night before, but you can help yourself and save time by already knowing whats on the menu for that day. I find that avoiding questions like “What will I eat? ” & “What will I wear?” before 7am makes my day much better from the start.

4 // Get into a Routine.

Mornings can be hectic but getting into a routine can make this time easier. Set your alarm for the same time each day. Choose a time that allows you some breathing room (you know, in case you spill coffee all over your white blouse or your dog decides that your new black pumps are in fact a chew toy). Get into the habit of doing the same things in the same order each morning: Wake up, Get Coffee, Have Quiet Time, Let Dog Out, Shower, Get Dressed, Eat Breakfast, for example. You can institute a routine for your kids too. Kids can do simple tasks like make their bed, brush their teeth, & get dressed. You can even make a sticker chart with a reward incentive like extra TV time or a sweet treat if they complete all of their chores.

5// Start your day off right.

Start your day with a quiet time like meditation, light reading, prayer, yoga or a devotional. You may have to set your alarm ten minutes earlier, you may have baby in your arms while you read your devotional or you may be sitting in the carpool line engaged in prayer, but I promise that whatever you do to center yourself will totally be worth it. You will be amazed how the start of your day sets the tone for the rest. <This is one of my favorite devotionals & how I start each day.>

What do you do to start the day off right? I’d love to hear from you! And if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends!

Like any good counselor will tell you, “If you can name it, you can tame it.” Use this philosophy with organizing products too. Don’t buy products for an area you don’t have a plan for.

2// How will this help me organize my space?

When I go into my client’s homes, most have already invested hundreds of dollars in organizing products and they are still in a sea of clutter. The items they purchase are perfect for organizing, they just don’t have a purpose in their home. Make sure you actually need that belt rack or those cute woven bins before purchasing.

Bonus Tip: In my own home, I often use makeshift items like shoe boxes and mismatched bins before purchasing new items. This allows me to make tweaks & perfect the space before investing in pricier products.

3// Does it fit?

You will hear me say this over and over: MEASURE. MEASURE. MEASURE. (measure!). Before you buy any products for a shelf, drawer, table top, etc. make sure to assess the space and determine what size items you need. A bin hanging part way off a shelf or a drawer organizer that is two sizes too small will only further frustrate your organizing woes. Invest in a good tape measure (this one is my favorite!) & take note before you head to the stores.

4// Where am I in the organizing process?

Okay, so you can name the room you wish to organize (Q#1). That is a great start. I highly suggest making it all the way through the sorting portion of the organizing process prior to buying any products. This will allow you to see which items actually need organizing.

5//Is this the look I am trying to achieve?

When you open the doors to a closet I have organized, my hope is that you will feel at home, inspired, and at peace. These are strong motivators when it comes to staying organized. Make sure you can visualize the look you are trying to achieve and that those items you wish to purchase fall in line with that look.

I’d love to hear about your organizing product purchases. Have you ever bought any organizing products that you later regretted? Leave me a comment or any questions you have below. I love hearing from all of you! And, if you liked this post, please share it with your friends!

Is your closet at absolute disaster? Do you cringe at the sight of it? Do you dread getting dressed in the morning? Don’t worry! I am here to help. I have organized hundreds of closets and am going to show you how to freshen up yours for only $10!

To start, lets talk about one of the main issues I encounter in every closet: hangers. No-Slip Hangers, Plastic Hangers, Wooden Hangers, Pants Hangers, Hangers with Clips, Hangers without Clips, Suit Hangers, Wire Hangers (gasp!), hangers galore! Clothes hanging every which way at every different height. Not only do mismatched hangers take up unnecessary space, they cloud your view and take away from the overall order of your closet.

Now lets think about the closets you envy on Pinterest & in magazines, they don’t have 10 types of hangers. They have one. They are stylish and simple and every item hangs at the same level as the next. So for this quick closet sprucing, we are going to focus on just that!

Follow these steps for a successful closet sprucing:

Step 1 // Empty your closet of all hanging clothes (and I mean every last item!).

Step 2 // Sort. Divide your clothing into the following categories: Fancy / Dresses / Skirts / Pants / Blouses. If you find that some of your clothes are not fitting into one of these categories, t-shirts for example, consider folding these items. Folding is a HUGE space saver. Having less items hanging will allow you to better visualize your wardrobe.

Challenge: Do a quick run through each item to look for stains, rips or tears. If it is not something you can reasonably remedy, toss it!

Step 3 // Once your clothes are sorted into the appropriate piles, determine the number of hangers you will need. I recommend these hangers by Room Essentials from Target. They cost around $3 for 18 hangers (that’s 54 hangers for under $10!!) and they come in a variety of awesome colors.

Step 4 // Now that you have purchased your hangers, it is time to exchange the old hangers for your new matching hangers! Discard your mismatched hangers and place each item of clothing on a new hanger.

Step 5 // Once the hanger exchange is complete, begin placing items back in your closet by category. From left to right, hang your clothes from Fancy to Blouses.

Challenge: For an added improvement to your space, arrange each category by color.

Step 6 // Step back and admire your beautifully arranged closet!

I’d love to hear what you have done to spruce up your closet. What has worked? What hasn’t? Leave me a comment below to share your tips, or if you have questions about this project. I love hearing from all of you! And, if you liked this post, please share it with your friends!

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About Me

I'm Caroline. Your organizing and interior styling guru.
For me, organizing is more than just decluttering a closet or styling a bookshelf. It is about balance, time, and space to let life happen. It is room to breathe, a weight off your chest and a moment to reset.
I truly desire for each of us to live life unencumbered.